12±0.15). Furthermore, nicotine induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest especially at G2/M Phase. The qRT-PCR revealed that nicotine increased the mRNA levels of α7nAChR as well as caspase-3 and suppressed the expression of cyclin B1. Treatment with α7-siRNA abolished these effects of nicotine. Conclusion These experiments determined that upregulation of α7nAChR by nicotine inhibits HepG2 cells proliferation and induces their apoptosis. These effects blocked by treatment with α7-siRNA, which indicates the involvement of α7nAChR pathways in these processes. © 2020 The Author (s).Purpose The increase of bacterial resistance to common antibacterial agents is one of the major problems of health care systems and hospital infection control programs. In this study, antimicrobial activity of titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated against E. coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus pathogenic bacteria by determining sensitivity coefficient and kinetics of bacterial death. Methods Antimicrobial tests were performed with ~106 CFU/mL of each bacterium at baseline. At first, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was concluded by the dilution method and then, death kinetic and susceptibility coefficient of NPs suspensions was determined at 0 to 360 min. treatment time. Results The results of this study revealed that, the highest susceptibility was observed for L. monocytogenes (Z=0.025 mL/μg) to TiO2 NPs, whereas the lowest susceptibility was obtained in the reaction of ZnO NPs with S. enteritidis (Z=0.0033 mL/μg). The process of bacterial death in NPs suspension was assumed to follow first-degree kinetic and the survival ratio of bacteria decreased by the increase in treatment time. An increase in the concentration of NPs was seen to enhance the bactericidal action. Conclusion Results showed that L. monocytogenes had higher sensitivity compared to S. enteritidis. The results of this study also demonstrated that TiO2 NPs have a strong antimicrobial effect in comparison with ZnO NPs and it could be employed to aid the control of pathogenic bacteria. © 2020 The Author (s).Purpose Herein we introduce a simple and sensitive sensor for the electrochemical determination of neurotransmitters compounds and anti-Parkinson drugs. Methods The electrochemical sensor (Au/CILCE) based on gold nanoclusters modified carbon ionic liquid crystal (ILC) electrode was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and voltammetry measurements. Results The effect of ionic liquid type in the carbon paste composite for the electro-catalytic oxidation of L-dopa was evaluated. Highest current response was obtained in case of ILC compared to other studied kinds of ionic liquids. The effective combination of gold nanoclusters and ILC resulted in extra advantages including large surface area and high ionic conductivity of the nanocomposite. L-dopa is considered one of the most important prescribed medicines for treating Parkinson's disease. Moreover, a binary therapy using L-dopa and carbidopa proved effective and promising as it avoids the short comings of L-dopa mono-therapy for Parkinson's patients. The Au/CILCE can detect L-dopa in human serum in the linear concentration range of 0.1 μM to 90 μM with detection and quantification limits of 4.5 nM and 15.0 nM, respectively. Also, the Au/CILCE sensor can simultaneously and sensitively detect L-dopa in the presence of carbidopa with low detection limits. Conclusion The sensor is advantageous to be applicable for electrochemical sensing of other biologically electroactive species. © 2020 The Author (s).Purpose Hydroxyurea (HU) is a well-known chemotherapy drug with several side effects which limit its clinical application. This study was conducted to improve its therapeutic efficiency against breast cancer using liposomes as FDA-approved drug carriers. Methods PEGylated nanoliposomes-containing HU (NL-HU) were made via a thin-film hydration method, and assessed in terms of zeta potential, size, morphology, release, stability, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity. The particle size and zeta potential of NL-HU were specified by zeta-sizer. The drug release from liposomes was assessed by dialysis diffusion method. Cellular uptake was evaluated by flow cytometry. The cytotoxicity was designated by methyl thiazolyl diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. Results The size and zeta value of NL-HU were gotten as 85 nm and -27 mV, respectively. NL-HU were spherical.NL-HU vesicles were detected to be stable for two months. The slow drug release and Weibull kinetic model were obtained. Liposomes considerably enhanced the uptake of HU into BT-474 human breast cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of NL-HU on BT-474 cells was found to be significantly more than that of free HU. Conclusion The results confirmed these PEGylated nanoliposomes containing drug are potentially suitable against in vitro model of breast cancer. © 2020 The Author (s).Purpose Paclitaxel (PTX) has transpired as a significant agent in the treatment of breast cancer. Meanwhile, polylactic glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) are able to increase the anticancer effect of the PTX in the blood. Methods Nano-precipitation was used to prepare the PLGA-PTX-VitD3 co-delivery NPs. Drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release profile, cell viability, migration, apoptosis, and bcl2 expression of NPs were evaluated. Results The average size of co-delivery NPs was 231 ± 46 nm. Observed was a controlled release of the PTX and vitamin D3 from co-delivery NPs between 0.5 and 240 hours. MTT showed the ability of 8 μg.mL-1 of co-delivery NPs to kill 50 % of the MCF-7; likewise, the co-delivery NPs prevented MCF-7 migration. The co-delivery NPs led 46.35 % MCF-7 to enter primary apoptosis. 60.8% of MCF-7 in the control group were able to enter the G (1) phase of the cell cycle. The co-delivery NPs increased expression of bax. In addition to its higher toxicity against MCF-7 than that of PTX, co-delivery NPs were able to release drugs continuously for a long period, which indeed increased the efficiency of the drugs. Conclusion The effect of co-delivery NPs on MCF-7 cell viability was different from that in other drugs. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/2-3-butanedione-2-monoxime.html In fact, the co-deliver NPs were able to release drugs continuously for a long time, this could induce primary apoptosis in the MCF-7 and decrease the metastasis and toxicity of drugs. © 2020 The Author (s).